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Title: The United States and Russia- The Beginning of Relations 1765-1815

Author(s): Nina N. Bashkina, Nikolai N. Bolkhovitinov

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THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA

The Beginning of Relations

1765-1815

EDITORS

Nina N. Bashkina, Nikolai N. Bolkhovitinov, John H. Brown, ]. Dane Hartgrove,

Ivan I. Kudriavtsev, Natal'ia B. Kuznetsova, Ronald D. Landa.

Valerii N. Ponomarev, Charles S. Sampson, Boris M . Shpotov, Natal'ia V Ushakova

" .. '

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Sponsoring Institutions

U.S. ~ar!menf of Stale

U.S. National Archives and Records Service

Kennan lnstifufe for Advanud Russian Studies, The Wilson Center

U.S.S.R. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

U.S.S.R. Main Archival Administration

U.S.S.R. Academy of Scimus

Prepared Under the Direction of a Joint Soviet-American Editorial Board

David F Trask Office of !he Historian U.S. ~ar!menf of Stale (Chief of !he U.S. Board)

Millon 0. Gustafson Diplomatic Branch U.S. National Archives

S. Frederick Starr Kmnan lnstifufe for Advanced Russian S/uJJiLs, The Wilson Cmter

Sergei L. Tikhvinskii Historical-Diplomatic Office U.S.S.R. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chief of !he Soviet Board)

Nikolili N Bolkhovitinov lnstifllft of General History U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences

UoniJI L Ptmin Scientific Publication Division U.S.S.R. Main Archival Administration

a. ,, fUBLIC 'LIBRARY William z. Slany · . ' Office of !he Historian <6 / - ~ / U.S. ~ar!mml of Stale

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Main entry under title:

The United States and Russia.

Bibliography: p . Included index. 1. United States-Relations (general) with Russia­

Sources. 2. Russia-Relations (general) with the United States-Sources. I. Bashkina, Nina N. II. Trask, David F. Ill. United States. Dept. of State. E183.8.R9U59 327.73047 80-607939

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NARS, RG 84, St. Petersburg, Consular Correspondence Sent, 1804-1816, LBC, English language.

•Alexander J. Smith, one of the partners in the commercial house for which Harris transacted commissions.

276. Instruction from Aleksandr A. Baranov to His Deputy, Ivan A. Kuskov

No. 39 New Archangel, October 14 [26], 1808

My Dear Sir, Ivan Aleksandrovich! The present disadvantageous developments in hunting activities

in the Kodiak and Sitka regions, as well as the great diversion of common assets by expenditures into. various unforeseen channels, compel us to search in regions other than those entrusted to us for means to improve and increase the fur trade and other ventures which are to the advantage of our stockholders, providing benefits that are inseparably linked with the interests of the entire company and the aims of the state in future times. Therefore, I have called upon the Lord God for help, and have elected to send a detach­ment of hunting parties to the coast of American New Albion with the company ships Mirt Kad 'iak and Nikolai, which ships and their commanding officers, navigators of the 14th rank, have the means and ability both to protect this detachment in its hunting activities and to survey and describe accurately the entire coast from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to California, and to note on their charts prominent places: harbors, bays, and straits with anchorages. The previous experience of our detachments aboard foreign vessels gives considerable reason to expect undoubted advantages in that region, because in a short time and with small detachments their hunts were successful. Therefore, to describe the aforementioned coast in detail and to discover harbors, bays, straits, and islands with an­chorages for large vessels, the small vessel Nikolai was sent off under Mr. Bulygin's command 1 on September .. . 2 of this year. ! enclose exact copies of the instructions3 I gave him and steward Tarakanov.

Because the importance of this subject requires very prudent and astute attention in matters of the settlement, organization, and work on that coast, as well as attentive observation, with patriotic

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zeal, of the prospects for the future in all these areas, I was dis­posed to go there myself, first on the Aleksandr and then on the ship Neva , proceeding from Kodiak. But various unforeseen circum­stances have intervened, namely:

1st. I am waiting for Captain O'Cain from Sannakh, with whom no one else can resolve the disposition of important company capi­tal.

2nd. I am also waiting for the government's naval frigate from St. Petersburg, which was expected here long ago in accordance with the certified instructions of the Main Directorate of the American Company, and which is no less necessary.

And 3rd, the ship Neva lies unduly idle under the command of local authorities, pending the orders to be brought by the afore­mentioned frigate or via Okhotsk by transport, on whether trade is allowed with the Chinese in Canton, to which the ship is to be dispatched as the main purpose of her voyage. This uncertairlty is preventing us from making a decision, so that I cannot go farther away than this port; and, although the difficulty of the organization and administration of the regions still falls on me alone, however incompatible this may be with my poor health and advanced years, I am determined to sacrifice my remaining strength and years for the prosperity of this country; and I charge Your Honor to distin­guish himself by this illustrious deed in proof of the loyal devotion you owe to our magnanimous· Monarch and to the fatherland, because of your duty as a subject, and especially because of the incomparable favor which you recently received of being elevated from the middle to the high level of staff status.

And although I rei y on your prudence and long experience in organizing profitable hunts, in commercial speculations, and in sup­plying the people in the detachment now under your command, I do not consider it superfluous to inform you of my considered proposals relative to hunting and trade and to political consider­ations in that country:

1st. From the aforesaid orders to Navigator Bulygin/ who is being dispatched in the brig Nikolai, you already -know that his first rendezvous is on the Albion coast in Grays Harbor or bay, which lies at 47°N. latitude and 236° 3' longitude from the London merid­ian, whither you are to proceed directly with the vessel Mirf Kad'iak; and if you find him there, or receive notice of him as set forth in his instructions, then, weighing the local circumstances, evaluate the hunting opportunities and remain for some time, making active experiments regarding the hunting in those places with the whole detachment. If it does not prove advantageous, leaving this place, proceed south as far as Trinidad Bay at 41 o 3' N. latitude and 236° 6' longitude from the London meridian, where a second rendezvous is set with Mr. Bulygin, and you should stop without fail. Do not enter the Columbia River; I see no need for it, for it lies far above

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the channel on Mr. Vancouver's maps, and perhaps Mr. Bulygin will also stop there and make his observations. Its estuary and channel are surrounded by many sand reefs and banks; thus, its entrance is not without danger for large vessels . Many peoples live along the coast, and perhaps some of the Boston Americans have already furnished them with firearms. The Bostonians intend to settle and establish colonies there, as you know. Consequently, it is open to question whether our hunting parties should hunt there, even if sea animals were to be sighted. It is also doubtful whether there is anything there, except river beavers and mountain animals.

Upon safely reaching Trinidad Bay: 2nd, Whether you find Mr. Bulygin or news of him there or

not, make full preparations for hunting. First of all, send Slobodchi­kov to the bay which lies no farther than 20 miles southward along the coast and find out from him if Mr. Bulygin is there. And if he is not and has not been there, explore the entrance and interior of this bay and take accurate measurements of them. If the entrance appears suitable, and your vessel Mirf Kad'ialc can enter, move the vessel's anchorage there without delay, for the Trinidad roadstead is not reliable, and make arrangements for hunting in various areas. The experience of Tarakanov's former detachment gives greater hope, for here, where Kimball anchored,5 and also around Bodega Bay and Drake's Bay, they sighted enough animals; and, given the small size of their party, they had quite a great success. So choose

o·for a main encampment one of three places: Slobodchikov's Bay, or where Kimball was, or in Bodega Bay, if it is possible to enter with vessels. From time to time, send detachments to Trinidad Bay from the one farther south for hunting and learning about inhabited places, especially places where chance and circumstances may not allow the brig Nilcolai to go. It is not necessary to set up large establishments with buildings now, when all this coast, from San Francisco harbor in California to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is completely unexplored and formal permission has not been ob­tained from our government for its occupation and settlement; but build a fort in the most suitable place, with proper quarters and fortifications for yourself and your men for a safe temporary resi­dence. Do not expend more time on this than is strictly necessary; your sole purpose is hunting and locating all profitable places along the Albion coast, and for this, where dangers are unforeseen from the local people, employ more Russians with the detachments . Strictly forbid and punish the slightest rudeness and insults toward local inhabitants by your men: both the Russians and the members of hunting parties, as well as you and your subordinates, should seek to win their friendship and love in every way, not by inspiring a fear based on your superiority in firearms, which these peoples do not have, but by various favorable enticements stemming from the courtesy and love of mankind, and sometimes by commensurate

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And even where their natural weaknesses for theft and deceit are concerned, forgive insignificant matters because of the beast-like thoughtlessness that characterizes their mores and understanding. But, while forgiving harmless transgressions, let your dissatisfac­tions be noticed, and gradually school them to understanding good and evil and the harmful malice through which they can bring ruin upon themselves . When you are on more familiar terms, try to obtain by purchase from among their prisoners two or three young boys; and, having clothed them properly, teach them the Russian language. As soon as they begin to grasp the names of things, write vocabularies for them in your spare time, so that in the future they may serve as interpreters and you may understand necessary ideas. Also, strictly forbid anyone to accept the smallest trifle as a gift, not even a morsel from food supplies, but pay for everything with whatever seems agreeable to them from among our goods and trinkets. Entertain and feed their most influential people on each visit if there is a surplus of food. In short, train them to consider all Russians and members of hunting parties as benevolent friends. Of course, you should think about necessary precautions for your safety in such cases at all times .

3rd. According to Tarakanov, Bodega Bay, more than other places known along that coast, offers hope, for with the tides a great number of otters enter to feed in it, because it has a narrow sandspit, a clay bottom, and is calm in all types of stormy weather. It very likely has a considerable amount of shellfish similar to the Chugatsk mamie, which otters feed on most.

The mouth of this bay is very narrow, and very likely suitable for trapping with a net; if the high and low tides are similar to those at Yakutat, you can anchor a bit farther from the mouth of the bay and, sending a party from within the bay, go after the animals with nets. Near the mouth they are so plentiful that Tara­kanov himself, sitting quietly on the shore, could kill five with a musket in an hour. Sven if there are breakers at its mouth, it is always possible to get inside this bay by portage across the sand­spit, as well as from Drake's Bay, from which there is also a , convenient portage across a flat area of less than two versts, accord-

- ing to Tarakanov. Its interior is probably very similar to San Fran­cisco Bay, at the mouth of which stands the Spanish fortress of that name, the farthest north in California. It thus could be politically useful for the future to explore carefully the land lying between the aforementioned bays, without giving the Spaniards the least cause to suspect our intentions to hunt in their vicinity. To this end, you should form a detachment of your most reliable and prudent men who, although they should be armed as a precaution, should be strictly ordered throughout this expedition to shoot at neither animal nor bird, unless the people in the detachment are in extreme danger.

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if the prices are twice as high as the prevailing prices ot wheat, do not hesitate to barter. You are familiar with the rest-what there is, what the prices are, what we need most here-but, if there is a suitable opportunity, try above all to establish future trade and hunting ties so that our goods may be freely furnished in exchange for their products. Do not trade in sea otter or take them at any price, but rather persuade the Spanish, if possible, to allow our hunting parties to hunt along the coast of California in the places where animals are most abundant and most easily obtained. Pro­pose in return to pay a stipulated amount per year, or a stipulated amount for each 1,000 pelts, counting only bobri and mallei, and to obtain provisions freely from voluntary trade with the church mis­sionaries.

6th. After safely spending the winter on the abovementioned Albion coast, at the beginning of spring around the month of March, if you think it safe to settle in the explored places, and even if you foresee profits in hunting and you do not need one of the vessels for your protection, then I suggest that it would be worth­while to send it with a small detachment farther south to seek uncharted islands along the California coast and to explore Guada­loupe Island, which is far from land and lies at 29° 17' N. latitude and at .. . 2 longitude from the London meridian. Perhaps profitable otter or seal hunting will be discovered on this or other similar islands remote from the mainland. But such cruising and explora­tion should be carried out with extreme caution, because of the danger from Spanish royal vessels and French privateers, which may sometimes be in those waters in pursuit of the English. This is improbable, but European events have been unknown to us for a long time, so order your men to keep away from everyone and to avoid encounters as much as possible.

7th. If the beneficent Creator rewards your hunting with suffi­cient success by May or June of 1809, but you consider that still greater profits can be safely obtained by leaving a detachment of Russians and hunting parties in these or other newly-discovered places for a certain time and you yourself decide to remain there, , and then the hunting profits and opportunities cease, then you are to decide when to come back here with the vessels, the whole detachment of men, and the hunting parties. Finally-, if you consid­er it necessary, send beforehand the small vessel with part of the furs and with news of all that has taken place. I leave these decisions completely to your good judgement, in the hope that you will not lose any opportunity to obtain profits for the Company and for our communities, and for the fatherland .

8th. If it should happen that somewhere in those waters you meet the American-Bostonian Captain Ayres, with whom a special agreement was made on Kodiak about hunting and furnishing pro­visions from California, 8 and to whom 26 baidarlcas were furnished

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Entrust this detachment to Tarakanov without fail if it is im­possible to take from the vessels one of the commanders, who could carry out this task more correctly: that is, to chart the coast by compass in the very narrow place between the said bays, espe­cially the position of San Francisco Bay, where the route from Bodega leads and ends, and the distance from said fort. If, unex­pectedly, the curiosity of the Spaniards at the fort is aroused, order the detachment to return at once. If it is impossible to dispatch a navigator, and Tarakanov is left to carry out this order with all the men, then you yourself are to move north of Bodega and Drake's Bay temporarily, either to the harbor where Kimball anchored, to Slobodchikov's Bay, or to Trinidad Bay, where our vessels are then to anchor. It is especially necessary to do this if any man-of-war is sighted at the Spanish.fortress; but if not, no danger is foreseen, for there are no galleys there.

4th. During your stay with the vessels or detachments in the vicinity of the Columbia River, find out if there are American­Bostonian vessels there, and if their government is establishing colonies. If so, and if chance permits meeting with them or with other explorers of European nations, including Spaniards, do not enter into any negotiations on the apportioning of rights of occupa­tion there, but say only that Russians have the same right to seck profits, according to natural law, as other nations, and to hunt sea animals along the entire coast and among the islands from New Archangel to California which are not occupied by other nations. Do not mention places which are already occupied by other civi­lized powers. Say that you are sailing from place to place with a detachment of promyshlennilci only to hunt where profits can be made.

5th. If for some unforeseen reason you have need for dealings or negotiations with the commandant of the aforementioned Span­ish fortress of San Francisco, Don Luis, the son of the former commandant, Sr. Arguello, with whom our former plenipotentiary, His Excellency Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, had a pleasant meeting and friendship in 1806,6 and to whom the beautiful Concepcion, the sister of the former and the daughter of the latter, was betrothed, then inform them first of the death of the late [Rezanov), in conformity with the letter given to Shvetsov/ a copy of which is commllnicated to you. Then, presenting appropriate gifts from among the items you have with you, ask for their kind indulgence in allowing our hunting parties to hunt in San Francisco Bay, and promise them one piaster's worth of our goods, of any item which is acceptable, for every large otter, except lcoshlolci and medvelki. Also propose trade by barter, furnishing them with lists and samples, and requesting from them the same provisions supplied to the deceased general at the same prices, but more flour, if they agree to sell for prices lower than those that were cited to the general. Even

under the command of Shvetsov, who had my nephew as one of his assistants, then enter into negotiations with this captain and, if it is necessary, make a special agreement in conformity with his contract, a copy of which is also communicated to you, but under new conditions if joint hunting is necessary somewhere. You must also take into consideration when making your decision what to do regarding that place. Try to get him away from the Albion coast in every way possible, even if a joint agreement is made, so that they and other foreigners may not discern our plans and intentions.

9th. Display all possible consideration and care for all the people, Russians and Aleuts, in the detachment in the expedition entrusted to you, anticipating and averting as much as you can all needs, shortages, and fatigue that may affect the men. Be particu­larly compassionate toward the sick, and spare no necessary sacri­fices to restore their health and vigor Such solicitude, together with safety precautions, must be your first object in the new settlements. Ten vedry* of rum and one barrel of molasses are provided to this end.

In conclusion, I recommend that you not forget that custom requires that you keep a daily log of events occurring after your departure. Particularly do not omit any noteworthy event, even if heard from natives, and remember to inquire around Bodega and Trinidad whether it is indeed true, as the California missionaries told the general, that horned cattle and horses have already wan­dered over and spread along the coast of New Albion. And your people should try to learn whether expeditions will be sent further inland from the seacoast, especially to little-known places where pastu~e lands suitable for grazing and shelter are discovered.

I also enclose a copy of the order9 I forwarded to Navigator Petrov concerning the direction of the first voyage.

Communicated on October 14 in the year 1808 in the American port of New Archangel.

Manager, Collegiate Councillor, Chevalier Aleksandr Baranov

GBL OR, f. 204, 32.34, I. 27-32ob., LS, Russian language.

'The schooner Sv. Nikolai, dispatched in September 1808, to explore the coast of New Albion under the command of Navi­gator Bulygin, ran aground and broke up on Destruction Island, near what is now Grays Harbor, Washington, on November 1/13, 1808. For more details, see Doc. 340.

•Omission in the source text. •On September 18/30, 1808, Baranov

ordered Tarakanov "to follow the coast of New Albion" together with Kuskov, and to

explore the known ports and unknown har­bors as far south as San Francisco. (GBL OR, f. 204, 32.7)

•On September 22/0ctobcr 4, Jl\08. Baranov issued Bulygin orders which did not differ in essence from those given t<• Tarakanov. (Ibid., 32.8)

•The American brig Prarorl:, Capt.1in Oliver Kimball, engaged in hunting expedi ­tions along the coast of New Albion in HIDe­and 1807. In the latter year, Kimball m.Hk

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was given a party of Russians and Aleuts led by Tarakanov to assist with the hunt­ing. Tarakanov thus became familiar with the waters north of San Francisco, while Kimball obtained a sizable number of furs . For further details, see Tikhmenev, fsloriches­kot obozrmit, ch. I. p. 171.

• See Doc. 230 . 'Baranov had informed Concepcion's

father by letter of Rezanov's death, which

.. noiarsk. (l.>tlL VK, r. "'-"'· ..>.t..~u 1 •see Doc. 261. •one vedra equals 21 pints. •[n October 1808, B.uanov ordered

Petrov to explore the coast of California carefully, but warned him not to enter the Columbia River, the mouth of which was made dangerous by S<lndbars. (GBL OR, f. 204, f. 204 , 32.9)

2 7 7. From a Despatch of fohn Armstrong to fames Madison

Paris, November [12] 24, 1808

Sir, ...

1 Mr. Short, who arrived on the 15th instant, and who deliv­ered to me your letter of the 9th of September,2 not wishing to have his appointment known here, it has accordingly been con­cealed. But though this course has been adopted and is still ob­served, in conformity to Mr. Short's personal wishes, I did not think myself at liberty to keep from the Russian Minister of For­eign Relations (who is now here) the fact that the President had determined to' send a Minister to Petersburg, and that his arrival there might be soon expected. The manner in which the Count received this intelligence showed the propriety of giving it. Besides expressions of the highest satisfaction on his own part, as well as on that of his master, he immediately dispatched a courier to Petersburg for the purpose of arresting or modifying the arrange­ments already taken, or about to be taken, with regard to Mr. Dashkoff's departure for America. He wished, in particular, to be informed of the grade of public character which the gentleman appointed would bring with him, and added that "an Imperial' Minister of equal rank would be immediately appointed." Nor did he stop here: "Ever since I came into office," he said, "I have been desirous of producing this effect, for in dissolving our commercial connections with Great Britain, it became necessary to seek some other power in whom we might find a substitute, and on looking round, I could see none but the United States who were at all competent to this object ." This is therefore the man, as well as the ·moment, for our purposes ... . 3

John Armstrong

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Odessa. This nation is extraordinarily enterprising; it is enough that there is a means of getting to such and such a port where they expect an advantageous market for them to go there at the risk of .. .. 2 and so long as they are given a bit of encouragement they rush there in crowds.

I take the liberty to communicate to you, Duke, my observa­tions on the yellow fever, against which we have taken steps by the method of quarantines. This malady, considered contagious, cer­tainly requires precautions that can prevent its introduction into our ports; on the other hand, quarantines, like all other formalities that stop or slow the movement of commerce, cannot fail to be prejudi­cial to merchants. That is why I have thought it my duty to obtain the :rriost exact information on this subject. I have consulted the most skilled doctors in this country, and if they have different opinions on the contagious or non-contagious quality of this malady, they are almost all agreed that it very often originates from the bad and improper care of ships and crews during voyages, and that 21 days is the maximum time necessary for a ship coming from a place infected with or suspected of having yellow fever to be quarantined. I will have the honor of sending to our Minister of Foreign Affairs at the first favorable opportunity more details on this matter and on the best regimen for houses of quarantine for yellow fever. 3

As I have had the opportunity to learn many times of the importance you attach to the freedom of commerce, Duke, and how much you seek to avoid all the useless obstacles to it, I hope that Your Excellency will excuse me for this digression.

I am infinitely flattered, Duke, to have this opportunity to present to Your Excellency the assurances of the high consideration and profound respect with which I have the honor ....

TsGAOR SSSR, f . 907, op. 1, d. 57, I. 12ob.-13, copy, French language.

'There is no evidence that the schooner Eltonora ever reached Odessa. For informa­tion on the first American_ merchant ship

known to have called at tha·t port, see Doc. 327 and the footnotes thereto.

2T ext damaged. 3See Doc. 365.

304. Report from Ivan A. Kuskov fo Aleksandr A. Baranov

New Archangel, October 5 [17], 1809

By Your Honor's order dated October 14, 1808,1 at the time of my sailing from the port of New Archangel for the coast of New Albion, Grays Harbor or Bay, which lies at 47 degrees north latitude

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and 236° 3' longitude from London, was commanded and appointed as my first meeting place with the previously-dispatched ... 2 vessel Nikolai, under the co!Il.mand of Navigator Bulygin.3 Setting a course for there, upon approaching the stated position, we encountered prolonged contrary and turbulent winds. Having cruised for some time, we were finally forced to leave, and set out for Trinidad Bay, where we expected to find the vessel Nikolai. We reached there on the 28th day of November.

But in this place, too, things were contrary to expectations. However, we resolved to stop for some time, no! only for a meet­ing, but also to make the necessary trials of the otter hunting and to learn the depth of the channel at Slobodchikov's Bay, where a detachment of Kodiak and Fox Island promyshlenniki had been sen:t with Slobodchikov, taking all the baidarkas. But continued turbulent southerly winds caused stormy seas along the entire coast, and particularly at the mouth of that bay, which hindered the expedi­tion. It was truly impossible not only to land, but even to come within a distance of several versts. And then after a while the wind from the sea produced extraordinary waves and roughness ... 2 that can only be imagined, and the vessel was in great danger; we expected an unhappy end at any moment in destruction on one of the many rocks which guarded the roadstead. We lost a small anchor and a grapnel; later the first was recovered, but the latter remained lost.

Fearing similar occurences in the future, and after consulting with Navigator Petrov, I decided to proceed south to the last ap­pointed place indicated in the order, Bodega Bay. In the event that Navigator Bulygin reached Trinidad Bay in the brig Nikolai, we left a sign: a cross raised in a suitable place and a message buried in the ground, and a short note ... 2 to entrust to the local inhabitants, ordering that, upon reaching said bay, and having made necessary repairs to the vessel, they set out to join us at Bodega.

Having sailed from Trinidad Bay on the 7th, we reached Bodega safely on the 15th of December. After choosing a place for our camp, we selected as the best harbor for the vessel Tul'iateliv Bay, so called by the natives living there, where the American Captain Kimball' had previously anchored. We set about hunting and tried various hunting grounds, but from the very outset we had few successes, except for a number of otters, but then stormy weather hindered us in this.

But circumstances compelled us to remain there: {1) because the rigging and sails required alterations and other repairs. Regarding these repairs, I decided to confer with the commandant of the Spanish fortress at San Francisco and, if allowed, to proceed to said port for commercial dealings and request permission to hunt in the bay of the same name. In the event of a refusal, if this was not permitted, and the vessel Nikolai did not arrive, we would head south, where ... 2 had been before with Slobodchikov.

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(2) It was necessary to wait for the vessel Nikolai for some time. But the repair and arming of the vessel proceeded very slowly, and was delayed until the month of May 1809. Meanwhile, four crew­men ran away in late December, and then others .. . 2 threatened to do so from time to time. So how would it have been possible for us to make arrangements after that? I then decided that I was forced to give up both contact with the commandant of the Spanish fortress at San Francisco and the voyage south. Without hope of retaining the vessel, and in the event ... 2 way we might fall into the hands of enemies, cruising in these waters. We accepted the latter plan to proceed to Trinidad Bay with the vessel, and a party of Kodiak and Fox Islanders ... 2 under the direction of Slobodchikov and his assis­tants. Although of polar foxes ... 2 and tusks would not bring the desired successes, at least that part would be known for the future. And when all was ready two baidarkas of Kodiak hunters followed the example of the deserters. Fearing that the voyage might be dangerous, because the place and harbors were unknown, and that

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other escapes would take place and leave the others in an unfortu­nate situation, I cancelled the voyage of the vessel; but a detachment of hunting parties under the command of Slobodchikov was sent north along the coast for fur ... 2 in the event ... 2 with news from .. . 2

inhabiting Tul'iateliv Bay, that along the coast to the north there is a large bay with otters.

Cherishing the hope of reaching this place, [our] detachment, having anchored near Cape Mendocino, proceeded in great danger along the wave-lashed rocky coast, but nothing was collected. Also, very little success was had in trading for furs. .

The entire party searched twice for our deserters in and around Bodega Bay, and inland in the region north of San Francisco Bay. We had to walk through this area, where the main part of our fur trading took place. -

. In all, we acquired 1,866 ma~lca* and lcoshlolc* pelts, 476 medvetolc* and slink pelts, and 423 seal pelts.

Meanwhile, our stay on the Albion coast was protracted to the 1st and 2nd of last August .

I have the honor to enclose with this report a daily journal of everything that took place in this period, and lists of people of both sexes who were aboard the vessel Mirt Kad'ialc and who died or fled for various reasons.5

Kom.[Commercial Councillor?]

GBL OR, f. 204, 32.15, L 1-2, autograph draft, Russian language.

•Doc. 276. 'Illegible. •See Doc. 340 and footnote 1 to Doc.

276.

•see footnote 5 to Doc. 276. • A variety of sea otter. . •None of these enciosure~ has been

found .

305. Despatch from john Quincy Adams to Robert Smith

No.4 St. Petersburg, October 14/26, 1809

Sir, On the 22d instt. I had the honour of writing you from Cron­

stadt,l and the next day came up in a passage-boat belonging to the government, furnished by order of the Admiral at Cronstadt, to this place. Soon after landing, I called upon the Consul General of the United States, Mr. Harris, and through him announced my arrival to His Excellency Count Romanzow, High Chancellor of the Empire. His Excellency appointed last evening at seven o'clock to receive

n-5t. ,d ry

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was titteen hundred dollars. My tnena, 1Vlr. J. lVL, remamea at ::>t. Petersburg nearly all the winter, where he purchased the greater part of our return cargo, which consisted principally of sheetings, drillings, diapers, canvas, ravensduck, etc., etc., all packed up in bales, with many coverings of cloth and mats to secure them against damage from exposure on the road. Through the months of March and April, as the goods arrived, they were sent on board and stowed away. The river began to break up about the lOth of April, and some ships arrived on the 24th. I was informed by the inhabi­tants of Riga that the river and harbor at Soldera were open much earlier than usual; commonly there were no arrivals until the middle of May, and often as late as the first of June.

We finished loading the Eliza on the fifteenth of May, settled all our bills, and got ready for sea. Our little schooner was in fine order, with an abundance of ~ rigging and an entire new suit of sails. I understood from Mr. J. M. that the whole cost of our return cargo was $45,000; and after lying in this port six months and four days, we sailed out of the Dwina on the morning of the 25th of May 1811, bound to New York. We soon discharged our pilot, and stood off shore, with light, variable winds, and clear, pleasant weather ... . 5

NYHS, "Life and Voyages of George Coggeshall," AD, English language. Published in full: George Coggeshall, Second Series of Voyages fo Various Parts of fhL Worli. Made between the Years 1802 and 1841, New York, 1852, pp. 80-108.

•In this portion of his account, Cogge­shall recounts his second voyage as capta:in of the schooner Eliza. The first thirteen pages describe the Eliza's voyage from New York to Riga.

•Here follows a paragraph describing Napoleon's strategy against Great Britain.

•Presumably a reference to Jacob Moses, a member of the New York firm of Isaac Moses & Sons.

•Here follow nine paragraphs describing the Russian winter and the city of Riga.

•The remaining six pages describe the Eliza's return voyage to New York.

3 79. Report from the Main Directorate of the Russian­American Company to Nikolai P. Rumiantsev

No. 313 (St. Petersburg,] May 16 (28], 1811

By the authority with which the Directorate of the company prepared to submit to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor its most devoted report, 1 compiled from information received from the colo­nies of the Russian-American Company, it now presents for the examination of Your Excellency an exact copy of it for the reason that this information also includes political matters, namely that:

751

1 . The manager of the colonies, Collegiate Councillor and Che­valier Baranov, sent to the shores of New Albion an expedition2 to search for a better place than Kodiak and Sitka for a company settlement, and this expedition under the command of Commerce Councillor Kuskov found one near the California port of San Fran­cisco in Bodega Bay. This place will not be settled, however, until some time in the future and until further instructions. Our traders crossed the mountains from Bodega to the California port of San Francisco and secretly looked over the area. They stood opposite a Spanish fort, but they did not see any war or merchant ships or troops; and, while secretly hunting sea animals in the bay, they found a complete stillness everywhere. They met in the mountains two Spaniards and one monk, from whom they learned that Cali­fornia does not as yet recognize any sovereign power except King Ferdinand VII, in whose name they wear cockades; they requested one of these cockades, enclosed herewith for Your Excellency. They also met the natives of that place, who took our men for Spaniards and wanted to attack them. But they learned that they were not Spaniards, and let them travel freely . From this one can conclude they are dissatisfied with their masters.

2. Consul General Dashkov in Philadelphia and several ship­masters of the North American states, who have been on Baranov

Drawing of Fort Ross and diagram of the fort by an unknown artist, 1817.

I \

\ \

/'" ..

. •

Island [Sitka] for commercial affairs, unanimously assure the man­ager of our colonies, Mr. Baranov, that an English privateer abso­lutely intends to go to these colonies to destroy them. This infor­mation impressed Baranov so much that he, unable to defend him­self in his wooden forts with people untrained in the military arts, requests that the supreme power be solicited for a warship or at least the government sloop Diana, which has been there and h,_as now returned to Kamchatka, to defend the settlements, the proper-ty, and the people. He explains that, although he had exhorted the commander of that sloop, Lieutenant Golovnin, to remain there to defend the fort, the latter had not agreed to this because he did not have the permission of his superior and because he had very few ship's provisions left, and these cannot be obtained in our colonies:~

And 3. By reason of the still unsettled outcome of the issue of' free navigation for our ships in Canton, Baranov was compelled to sell our furs there by entrusting them to the Bostonian shipmasters, whose charges for such speculations have been very unprofitable for the company.

In bringing all this information to the attention of Your Excel­lency, the Directorate of the company hopes that Your Excellency,

753

.i

' ·l

/

from his love for the fatherland's establishments and for the protec­tion of the company, will not fail to solicit a favor from the throne, as a result of which our colonies in America can be defended and a free route to Canton opened more quickly.

First Director and Chevalier, Mikhailo Buldakov Director Venedikt Kramer Chancery Manager Zelenskii

·A VPR, f . SPb. Glavnyi arkhiv, II-3, op. 34, 1805-1824 gg., d. 7, I. 4-Sob., LS, Rus­sian languge. Published: VPR, vol. VI, pp. 119-120.

'in this report, also dated May 16/ 28, 1811, which described in detail the -expedi­tions of Kuskov to the coast of California, the Main Directorate stated that lands suit­able for agriculture and animal husbandry had been found in the region between 38"39' north latitude and 236"21'18" longi­tude, not far from San Francisco. (A VPR, SPb. Glavnyi arkhiv, 11-3, op.34, 1805-1824 gg., d. 7, I. 6-9ob.)

2 Kuskov completed three expeditions to the coast of California with the aim of find­ing a location for a settlement. His first

expedition was sent out by the Russian ­American Company in 1808 and returned 10

Sitka in October 1809 (see Doc. 276). Thr .. second expedition, in 1810, was unsuccess­

ful , since armed Indians attacked Kuskov '> trading party, and he was forced to return to New Archangel. On January 22/February 8, 1811, Kuskov was sent to California ior the third time. On August 30/ September 11, 1812, during this third expeditior,, Kuskov founded Fort Ross on the coast of California north of San Francisco Bay .

380. Despafch from Leveff Harris to Robert Smith

St. Petersburg, May 18/30, 1811

Sir, I have the honor to transmit you herewith a report of our trade

for the last year, which exhibits a gratifying view of our relations with Russia; and I have to congratulate my government upon the change which has lately taken place in the Ministry of Commerce. Mr. Gourieff, Minister of Finance, now solely directs this depart­ment, and since the Chancellor's resignation of this branch of his Ministry, we unfortunately have had to do with Baron de Campen­hausen, Treasurer and Controller, who has caused us difficulties and embarrassments of which my reports under date of the 12/24 December last! have made you fully acquainted. I have had fre­quent conferences with Mr. Gourieff upon the subject of our trade; and I have received from this Minister the fairest assurances of his attention and regard to our interests, and which indeed has been

country, I would recommend it to consist of a variety of articles, rather than engaging in a large quantity of any particular article, as our market is soon overstocked, and when this is once the case, a sale cannot be effected at any price. The quality of the goods ought also to be particularly attended to, as the Russians are very nice in making their purchases, and prefer paying high prices for articles of superior quality to engaging at a much lower rate in those of an inferior description. Our exchange has kept very steady for some time past at 14 1/2 d. on London, 11 1/8-3/8 on Hamburg, and 12 on Amsterdam. At foot you have a note of our arrivals of American vessels at our port; also, a statement of the comparative cost of goods in sterling money in the years 1806 and 1810 for your government. I also enclose lists of goods exported.3

Miers Fisher Jr.

EI, Josiah Orne Papers, vol. I, Ships Exchange Bills, Prices Current, ALS, English language.

•In the Manuscript Department of the Lenin State Library in Moscow is an exten­sive fond on the commercial firm of Miers Fisher and Co. containing 94 individual files (988 sheets). Among the papers in this fond is a business memorandum from John 1D. Wilson dated June 20, 1810, relative to var­ious products. (GBL OR, f. 467, 2.43, I. 1)

•Here follow approximately two pages of other prices current on the St. Petersburg market .

'After the signature come two lists, one entitled "Comparison of the prices of Russia goods at the Rates of Exchange in the Years 1806 and 1810," the other "Ships arrived in 1810".

340. From the journal of Russian-American Company Steward Timofei Tarakanov1

[New Archangel, no earlier than June 9/21, 1810]

••• 2 In March we moved to summer quarters, where I built another dugout larger than the first and fortified it with embrasures on the seaward side. The fame of this building spread far, and the chiefs came great distances to look and wonder at it. Finally, the Good Lord heard our prayers and sent us deliverance: early on the morning of May 6, a two-masted ship appeared, and soon ap­proached the shore. My master3 went immediately to the ship, taking me with him. This brig belonged to the United States, was named the Lydia, and was under the command of Captain Brown. To my considerable surprise, I found my comrade Volgusov aboard the ship, and learned that he had been resold on the banks of the Columbia River, where he was ransomed by Captain Brown. The

. ~ -

my master as well as he could that he should order his tribesmen to bring to him all the Russian captives, whom he intended to ransom. My master left, and I remained on the brig.

On the following day, the savages brought John Williams, an Englishman who had been with us, for whom they asked an exor­bitant ransom, but then agreed to accept five flannel blankets, five sazhens of cloth, a metalworker's saw, two steel knives, one mirror, five bags of gunpowder, and five bags of the same size containing small shot. Afterwards, they received the same amount for all of us, except Bolotov and Kurmachev, whom they twice brought to the ship, and both times they asked such an exorbitant ransom that the price for each exceeded that which had been paid for all of us together. But as the savages were not given what they demanded, they took these unfortunate men away and declared that we would not see Shubin either, because he had been sold to a master who had gone to Destruction Island to hunt whales.

The stubbornness of the savages forced Captain Brown to take other measures. He seized one of the chiefs, the brother of the toen who held Bolotov and Kurmachev captive, and told him that he would not receive his freedom until the Russians were released. This action had the desired effect: that same day Bolotov and Kurmachev were brought. Then we began to demand Shubin, giving them 24 hours in which to produce him. But they brought him on the following day, when we were at sea, about 15 miles from shore. Then Captain Brown released the chief, paying him the same ransom' as he had given for the others. In this fashion, Cap­tain Brown ransomed thirteen of us;4 seven had died during our misfortunes and in captivity;5 one had been sold to peoples living far away, and remained with them;6 and one (an Aleut man) had been ransomed in 1809 by Captain Pars [Ayres] of the American ship Mercury on the banks of the Columbia River.

On May 10, we got under way, and sailed directly along the coast, calling frequently at various harbors to trade with the sa­vages, and on June 9, we arrived safely at the port of New Archan-gel. '

Timofei Tarakanov

MS not located. Published in full : Vasilii M. Golovnin, comp., Opisanie primtchafe/'nykh korablekrushmii, v raznye vremma preferpmnykh rossiisl:imi mortp/avafeliami, Zd ed., St. Petersburg, 1853, pp. 17-46.

'This extract is taken from a journal which describes the wreck of the ship Sv. Nikolai on Destruction Island, not far from Grays Harbor, on November 1/13, 1808.

'In the portion of the journal immedi­ately preceding this excerpt, Tarakanov re­lates the calamities which befell the people

saved from the ship. After many mishaps­skirmishes with the Indians, a forced win­tering, the capture of several members of Tarakanov's entourage--the ship's captain, Navigator Bulygin, and three other men surrendered to a tribe of Indians, which Tarakanov calls the Kunishchats, on Febru-

669

ary 10/22, 1809. Regarding the intended route of the voyage of the Sv. Nikolai, see Docs. 276 and 304.

3 A certain lutramaki, a chief of the Kunishchats, considered himself Taraka­nov's master throughout the period of his captivity (February 1809-March 1810).

•Timofei Tarakanov, Omitrii Shubin, Ivan Bolotov, Ivan Kurmachev, Afanasii Volgusov, Kas'ian Zyrianov, Sava Zuev,

Abram Petukhov, John Williams, two Aleut men, and two Aleut women . [Footnote in the source text.]

•Navigator Bulygin and his wife, lakov Petukhov, Koz'ma Ovchinnikov, Khariton Sobachnikov, and two Aleut men. [Footnote in the source text.]

<The young student Filipp Kotel 'nikov. [Footnote in the source text.]

341. Letter from Nikolai P. Rumianfsev to Andrei fa. Dashkov

St. Petersburg, June 11 [23], 1810

Sir, Permit me to tum your stay in America to account to satisfy a

fancy which my relish for botany and my plans for the improve­ment of my Gomel lands inspire in me. I would like to naturalize there the grapes of America or the so-called nuchoacan of Canada, the description of which is ~nclosed herewith. Accordingly, you would oblige me greatly, Sir, by finding the means to send me a small quantity of sound vine-stocks, and accompanying them with a detailed instruction on the best procedures for transplanting them and on the care they require in their cultivation.1

In entrusting yourself with this commission, inform me of the sum total of its costs, and to whom you wish that I make reim­bursement.

Convinced of the attention you will devote to this request, Sir, I thank you in advance, and I add with pleasure the new assurance of the sentiments of esteem with which I have the honor. ...

Le Comte de Romanzoff

P. S. If you find, Sir, that the wheat, rye, oats, barley, flax, or hemp of some of the provinces that make up the United States of America have a just reputation, either because of their superiority or because of their fecundity, you would provide me great pleasure by sending me a few chefverts or other measure to sow and test here. I have requested Mr. Cramer to provide you through his correspond­ents with a credit of five hundred rubles, which I suppose suffi­cient for this matter. If even double this sum is necessary, that is acceptable; on the contrary, I would be deeply grateful for this expense, and would reimburse you at once for any additional ex­penditure on your part. If, among the grains that are sown in

408. From a Report of the Main Directorate of the Russian­American Company to a General Meeting of Its Shareholders

[St. Petersburg,] February 1 [13], 1812

The undersigned at the present meeting of the company have considered it their duty to submit a review of what has occurred since the company's last meeting.: .. 1

IV

The latest news from America, dated April 25, 1811, is as follows:

On the departure on that date of the last vessel, the Finliandiia, all was well in all the settlements and establishments. Mr. Baranov, the Chief Manager there, is so abundantly supplied by barter with Bostonian seafarers and with goods furnished by us via Okhotsk that there will be enough for three or four years. The Directorate of the company had not known about Mr. Baranov's exchanges with the Bostonians, and had ordered considerable supplies for this region; it already has them in Kamchatka, Okhotsk, Iakutsk and Irkutsk, and will transport them there on suitable occasions.

Mr. Baranov vehemently complains about the increasing number of seafarers in those regions, North American United States citizens, who bring their own and others' colonial goods, exchange them with the Indians for furs, and transport the latter to Canton for sale. Were it not for these seafarers, all the furs of neighboring and far-off Indians would be in the hands of our company. He complains most of all that these seafarers supply the Indians with firearms and other weapons, powder, bullets, and lead, and that the Indians are learning how to use these weapons and are making unimpeded and safe hunting activities and trade by our Russian promyshlmniki difficult in some ways. As a result, various expedients must be devised to acquire furs, such as: frequently going on more distant expeditions than before, with many people and at great cost, and being in a state of constant military readiness. When many people are used, contacts must be established with those very sea­farers, several of whom Mr. Baranov engages by contract almost every year. He provides them with hunters, baidiras, and tools, and sends them to different hunting grounds, even very distant ones, in order to divide the hunt in half. The procedure takes half of the catch away from the company, and must continue by necessity until we obtain the proper assistance from our eminent governemnt. which we continually care and work for.

According to our long-standing desire, confirmed by His Impe­rial Majesty in the State Chancellor's report dated December L 1809,2 assuring his monarchical protection, Mr. Baranov did not fail

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River, under the command of Commerce Councillor Kuskov, 3 to search for the most convenient and advantageous place for a colony, which, by exercising dominion over all this region and over hunting and trade with the Indians, would open to the company new benefits in hunting and would avoid the difficulties the com­pany now faces in furnishing our present settlements with provi­sions and heavy naval articles because of the distant, difficult, and frequently obstructed road to Okhotsk and the continually rising cost of transport. This expedition, however, did not find a suitable spot in the place that had been selected, and the Indians, stirred up by the trade of the North American citizens, were not very hospita­ble. Moreover, the North Americans from New York, as is known from the public gazettes and especially from our and Mr. Baranov's information, are themselves already establishing a settlement there under the auspices of the American Fur Company. They are send­ing their expeditions by sea around the world and by land through the mountains from their territories, which our government has already learned about through the aforementioned agent of the fur company here, the Danish Councillor Bentzon, who has submitted a plan to the State Chancellery by which he proposes to the Rus­sian-American Company several trade services, with the promise not to exchange arms with the Indians in all the regions we occupy in America, and also to dissuade his fellow -citizens from this trade by competing with them for trade there. This proposal, with the Sovereign permission of His Majesty the Emperor, was brought to the attention of the Directorate of the company, and it agreed with this agent to all that could be in the mutual interests of both companies; but since, despite all this, the main goal of this compa­ny and its agent Bentzon .is only to be permitted to bring some of their furs here, which demand can be harmful to Russian trade and industry, for vast and abundant Siberia and our business in Amer­ica can provide us with enough of these goods, what decision our government will make in this matter is still unknown. And mean­while Mr. Baranov, through his dealings with Astor, a member of this company, and anticipating mutual benefits for it and for our company, has concluded a convention' and ordered a considerable cargo of various European products needed for our colonies, and most of all food provisions, in which, as noted above, he now abounds; and he is still ordering such cargo pending the outcome of the requests of the aforementioned Bentzon.

After all this, however, Mr. Baranov, who is declining in years, but not in spirit and zeal, after discovering in 1808 another suitable place beyond the Columbia and close to California, namely in Bodega Bay, dispatched a second expedition in 1811 under the command of Commerce Councillor Kuskov, to hunt animals. We must wait for further information on whether or not he will estab­lish a settlement there.

817

Aside from these events in America and the usual hunting activities where possible for the benefit of the company, Mr. Ba­ranov did not fail to send for the second time in 1810 a North American seafarer on his own vessel to Canton to sell company fur products and buy Chinese goods, the latter not only for our colo­nies, but also for Kamchatka and Okhotsk.5 Of course, it is a risk that he has entrusted our property to a foreigner, but this is neces­sary because we are still prohibited from going there, and, judging by the previous shipment, the North American will undoubtedly do no more than cheat us a little in contrast to what we could receive through our own agents. We continually think about having trade opened to us in Canton, and we have already inconvenienced our eminent government several times regarding this. This permission would be especially b.eneficial because we could, without the assist­ance of the North Americans, sell our furs there ourselves and also maintain the flow of the same goods in Kiakhta. The Chinese goods which reach here must go around the world, except for furs, and other goods from here must be sent there by the same route, as also all heavy goods and things for our colonies that are difficult to send to Okhotsk whole, and must travel in pieces, such as anchors . While engaged in all these enterprises he bought in 1807 from a North American seafarer the fine vessel Myrfle,S renamed Kad'iak, for 41,000 piastres, and at Sitka he built two vessels-one a three­masted vessel christened Otkryfie, which he intends to send to the East Indies to sell ships' spars, and the other a small schooner christened Chirikov, in honor of the first discoverer of the Russian­American coast. It is useful for sending news to Okhotsk and the islands. It was expected last summer in Okhotsk, but did not arrive.

Having briefly described American activities, we consider it our duty to mention to the meeting our activities here, which-in addi­tion to the usual vigilance in preserving capital, supervising staff, the difficult accounting which inevitably occurs in trade and eco­nomic articles, shipping and selling goods, and improving the man­agement of all current company affairs, which includes correspond­ence with authorities that is often unusual and burdensome for the trade bureau-consist of our desire to increase its profits. Accord­ingly, we ordered and directed Mr. Baranov without fail to send one vessel to California, to the port of San Francisco/ for the establishment of commercial ties with the local inhabitants, and especially with the clergy. When the late Chamberlain Rezanov was there in 1806,8 he failed to establish these ties because the legiti­mate government in Spain, influenced by the fanatical views of the clergy, forbade trade with foreigners. But now, given the lack of support for the new supreme power and the rising opposition to it in all of Mexico, and the establishment of republican authorities , perhaps our company will be more likely to succeed in making the inhabitants willing to trade with us, because this region has abso­lutely no iron (instead of which ox-hides and sinews are used in all

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many other goods that are ne-cessary for society, all of which they had already secretly requested that Mr. Rezanov furnish to them. We can receive in exchange their abundant and varied grains, live and slaughtered cattle, which are multiplying at a rapid rate even in the forests, and tallow, silk, manufactured products, and other ne­cessities for our colonies. We have brought this enterprise of ours to the attention of our eminent government now so that permission for us to trade there can be obtained from the new Spanish Court; but it is up to us to manage by ourselves in California. We wait with impatience for information as to how Mr. Baranov will suc­ceed in this .. .. 9

First Director and Chevalier Mikhailo Buldakov Director V enedikt Kramer

Read on Febuary 1 [13], 1812. There is a protocol of the same date regarding it.

A VPR, f. RAK, d. 215, L 1-11, LS, Russian language. Published in full: VPR, vol. VI, pp. 276-282.

'The beginning of the report (sections I-III) is omitted. In it are listed the ships which arrived at Kamchatka from the Rus­sian settlements in America in the years 1808-1810, and also the goods they carried. The total debt of the Russian-American Company to tile State Bank is also indicated.

21n this report, dated December 1/13, 1809, Rumiantsev had written: "His Imperi­al Majesty, having refused in the present case to promote a settlement on Albion from the treasury, allows the Directorate freely to establish one itself, promising in any event his monarchical intercession .... " (Matmaly dlia isforii russkiJ:h zastlenii po btrtgam Vostochnogo okeana, St. Petersburg, 1861, vyp. 3, pp. 167, 172; Vasilii A. Bil'basov, comp., Arkhiv grafov Mordvinovykh, iO vols., St. Pe­tersburg, 1901-1903, vol. VI, p . 668)

Rumiantsev's representation was approved by Alexander I in November 1809. See Doc. 312.

•See Doc. 379 and footnotes thereto.

•see Docs. 351, 366, and 393.

•Presu"mably under reference is Ebbets' voyage to Canton in 1810. Baranov entrust­ed to Ebbets furs and other goods worth 145,000 rubles . Ebbets returned to New Archangel in May 1811, bringing various Chinese goods: provisions, tea, textiles, crockery, clothing, tf a/. Part of these goods, sent by Baranov to Kamchatka, were lost in a shipwreck.

•Under reference is the British ship Myrflt, under Captain Barber.

'Under reference is the Russian-Ameri­can Company's attempt to establish direct commercial relations with the inhabitants of California. A "proclamation" of the Main Directorate of the Russian-American Com­pany dated March 15/27, 1810, proposing trade on mutually advantageous conditions, was dispatched to California through Ba­ranov. (GBL OR. f. 255, 15.34; V. Potekhin,

"Selenie Ross [The Ross Settlement]," Zhur­nal manufaktur i !;wgcroli Uoumal of Manufactorits

and Commtrct] , 1559, pp. S-8) California's Spanish authorities replied to Baranov in March 1812 that they agreed to trade with the Russians, but had to obtain sanction for this from the central government in Madrid. At the beginning of 1813, Kuskov, the manager of Fort Ross, received from Arril­lago, the Governor of Upper California, per­mission (with certain reservations) for mutual trade. (GBL OR, f. 255, 15.35) On the basis of this agreement, trade with Cali­fornia was carried on throughout 1813.

•See Doc. 230.

'Sections V and VI are omitted. They deal with the internal affairs of the Rus­sian-American Company and its financial situation.

819

the savages ... land] went to Bodega !Bay] on December 1s.··•7 Kuskov's subsequent report resulted in the selection of the Bodega area f0r the new Russian colony (Fort Ross). and their interest in more northerly settlement sites war>ed in subsequent years . For the short visit by the Kodiak to Trinidad Bay in November I 808, ~ everai sources have claimed that Slobodchikov journeyed from there to nearby Humboldt Bay pursuant to Baranov 's instructions for him to do so.

A. L Alekseev. Russian historian, wrote that it was "definitely known that (Siobodchikov) called at Rezanov. Bay (Humboldt Bay)" in I 808, and that he "placed on its shores a copper plaque bearing the Russian Emblem" to signify possession of the land. But Alekseev gave no source for his information48 A Russian historian of the I 930s, S.B. Okun, who provided docu­mentation and sources, wrote "In I 808 the peasant Sysoy Slobodchikov placed iron marker no. I in Trinidad B<ty. at latitude 4 I o N ... "49 More: recently, R. A. Pierce of the University of Alaska Fairbanks picked up on Alekseev's and Okun 's assertions and suggested that Slobodchikov entered Humboldt Bay again in 1808.50 It would be easy to believe that he would travel there those few miles during the month that the Kodiak was anchored in Trinidad Bay. He would have been able to guide the Aleuts in small boats to the entrance based on his I 806 experience in the bay with the Winships.

These asset1ions of Alekseev and Pierce that Slobodchikov may have reentered Humboldt Bay in 1808 now appear incorrect. A new publication from Moscow by a contemporary source confirms that he did not reenter. In that, a report from Kuskov, Russian-American Company assistant on board the Kodiak, to his superior, Baranov, October 5, I 809, read (paraphrased): "In I 808, Kuskov was in the vicinity of Cape Trinidad hoping to rendezvous with B ulygin (Sv. Nikolai-. In the meantime, he decided to check the depth soundings obtained previously [I 806] and sent out all of his Aleuts (Kodiak and Fox Islanders) in baidarkas, under the same Slobodchikov. They were unable to enter 'Slobodchikov Bay' because heavy surf was running along the entire shore under south winds, but it was especially strong at the entry into the bay. Slobodchikov had to return to the vessel. Kuskov left the 'Trinidad roads' December 7 [Julian <:~lendar . then 11 days behind the Gregorian], setting course for Bodega Bay."51

46 Basil Dmytryshyn, E. A. P. Crownhart-Vaughan and Thomas Vaughan, ea .. T11e Russian American Colonies 1798· 1867 (Portland: Oregon Wistorical Society Press, 1989), 167.

" K. T. Khlebnikov. Baranov, op. cit, 71, and Colonial Russian America, op. cit, 8. 48 A. I . Alekseev, letter, 2 March 1973, op. cit. '9 S. B. Okun, The Russian-American Company( Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1951 ), 121.

50 Richard A. Pierce , Russian America: A Biographical Dictionary, op. cit, 475. 51 A. Kuskov, "Report, I. A. Kuskov to A. A. Baranov, New Archangel , 5 October 1809," Document No. 129, in

Rossiisko-Amerikanskaia Kompaniia i izuchenie tikhookeanskogo Severe 1799-1815 (The Russian American Com­pany and the Exploration of the North Pacific Ocean 1799-1815), (Moscow: The Academy of Sciences, 1994), vol. 3, 201-203. The original of this report is in the manuscript division of the Russian State Library, Moscow. in the history of Russian antiquities section, Acts P.32,D.I5, Folios 1-2, draft. The writer. Ivan A. Kuskov, a member of the Russian American Company, was assi stant to Baranov. ln 1809 Kuskov, having resumed to New Archangel on the ship Kodiak under navigator Petrov, and having surveyed Bodega Bay, lauded the likely productivity of the northern C;:alifr,,nict l.OilSl a;:, ;J puss i; ,j:,! silt fvr a l.'Uh.my. Kusko v Uc~aine m~n~gcr nf tht! ~ettkm ;..· ril dl ron Ro\~ from 18 ! 2 to i 821. (The report was also published earlier. in English and Russian simultaneously. with the English translation slightly different than given in thi s narrative , and it was li sted as: N. N. Bashkina, et al. . eds. , The United Stutes and Russia. The Beginning of Relations 1765-1815 (Washington , D. C. : Department of State. 1980) , 594-8.)

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Glenn Farris Assoc. Archaeologist Ca. Department of Parks and Recreation 2505 Port Street West Sacramento, CA 95691

Breck Parkman Assoc. Archaeologist Ca. Department of Parks and Recreation Silverado District 20 East Spain Street Sonoma, CA 95476-5778

Re: Campbell Cove Archaeological Study

By US mail

Dear Glenn and Breck:

April 8, 1998

Here is some news on the research front that I think you will both find of interest.

Following up on a tip from a colleague in England, I have come upon a letter dated October 5, 1809 from Ivan Kuskov to Alexander Baranov summarizing the results of his first expedition to California and his eight-month sojourn in Bodega Harbor, or "Tul'iateliv Bay, so called by the natives living there." The letter mentions "a daily journal of everything that took place in this period, and lists of people of both sexes who were on board the vessel Kad'iak and who died or t1ed for various reasons." Kuskov made camp at Campbell Cove from the 15th of December 1808, to August 2, 1809. In the event you do not already have this letter, I am sending you both a copy.

How about an "exact copy" of a report dated May 16, 1811 that "describes in detail the expeditions of Kuskov to the coast of California," (hopefully based on the Kuskov journal(s))? This report, I presume, covers Kuskov's first visit to Bodega Harbor in 1809 and his second in 1810 which was aborted when "armed Indians attacked Kuskov's trading party." I found a reference to the report in the translation of a letter of the same date from Mikhailo Buldakov (the report's author) to Nikolai Ruminatsev. The letter transmits and discusses the contents of the report and mentions that during a secret exploration of the north shores of San Francisco Bay in 1809, the Russians met up with "natives of that place" and "two Spaniard and a monk". As far as I know, the report has never been translated to English and is to be found in the following Russian archive: AVPR, Spb. Glavnyi arkhiv, 11-3, op. 34, 1805-1824 gg., d. 7, 1. 6-9ob.

Along, with the Kuskov letter, I am forwarding copies of the Buldakov letter and some related material.

Potentially, the Buldakov report is a real treasure. I wouldn't be surprised if it contains some charts and maps. In addition, it would be very interesting to know what other materials are to be found in that 1805- 1824 folio.

Glenn Farris and Breck Parkman, California Deptartment of Parks and Recreation May 8, 1998

As part of your respective Russian-era projects, do you have the means to have the folio checked for its content and the 1811 Buldakov report copied and translated. If not, or if you do not have an immediate interest in pursuing this research, I may give it a try myself via the Fort Ross Interpretive Association of which I am a member.

Sincerely,

:.~I· /(~ Brian Kelleher P.O. Box 850 Cupertino, CA 95014 phone: (408) 253-8365; fax: (408) 253-3613; email: bkellehr@ix.netcom.com

cc with enclosures:

• Michael Turner, Drake Exploration Society, Somerset England • Bodega Marine Lab Library • Lyn Kalani, Fort Ross Interpretive Association • John Foster, State Parks • Kent Lightfoot, UC Berkeley

2

Date sent: From: Subject:

Sun, 10 May 1998 01:21:07 -0400 "E. Breck Parkman" <75263.3037@compuserve.com> Research news

To: Tim CampbeU <anagrantdirector@hotmail.com>, Lyn K.alani <fria@mcn.org>, Michael Kennedy <makennedy@ucdavis.edu>, Kent Lightfoot <lightfoo@qal.berkeley.edu>, Dan Murley <damurl@mcn.org>, Otis Parrish <otisparish@aol.com>

----------Forwarded Message----------

From: INTERNET: bkellehr@ix.netcom.com, INTERNET: bkellehr@ix.netcom.com TO: (unknown), INTERNET: "Glenn"@ix.netcom.com Glenn Farris, INTERNET:archlab@cwo.com

CC: (unknown), INTERNET:Breck@ix.netcom.com (unknown), INTERNET:Parkman@ix.netcom.com (unknown), INTERNET:John@ix.netcom.com (unknown), INTERNET:Foster@ix.netcom.com John Foster, INTERNET:parkarky@cwo.com (unknown), [75263,3037]

DATE: 5/8/98 2:28 AM

RE: Research news

Sender: bkellehr@ix.netcom.com Received: from dfw-ix5.ix.netcom.com (dfw-ix5.ix.netcom.com [206.214.98.5]) by arl-img-9.compuserve.com (8.8.6/8.8.6/2.1 0) with ESMTP id CAA11843 for <75263 .3037@compuserve.com>; Fri, 8 May 1998 02:28:48 -0400 (EDT) From: bkellehr@ix.netcom.com Received: (from smap@localhost)

by dfw-ix5.ix.netcom.com (8.8.4/8.8.4) id BAA28842; Fri, 8 May 1998 01 :28:12 -0500 (CDT)

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To: "Glenn"@ix.netcom.com To: Farris""@ix.netcom.com To: <archlab@cwo.com> Cc: E.@ix.netcom.com Cc: Breck@ix.netcom.com Cc: Parkman@ix.netcom.com Cc: <75263 .3037@compuserve.com> Cc: John@ix.netcom.com Cc: Foster@ix.netcom.com Cc: <parkarky@cwo.com> Message-Id: <199857233~lJ~11@> Subject: Research news X-Mailer: NETCOMplete v3 .~5 , from NETCOM On-Line CqfPlllunications, Inc. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi Glenn and Breck,

rrparks -- 1 -- Sun, 17 May 1998 07:23 :28

I have some news on the research front that I think you will both find of interest.

I have come upon a letter dated October 5, 1809 from Ivan Kuskov to Alexander Baranov summarizing the results of his first expedition to California and his eight-month sojourn in Bodega Harbor, or "Tul'iateliv Bay, so called by the natives living there." The letter mentions "a daily journal of everything that took place in this period, and lists of people of both sexes who were on board the vessel Kad'iak and who died or fled for various reasons." Kuskov made camp at Campbell Cove from the 15th of December 1808, to August 2, 1809. Perhaps you already have this letter but I am forwarding you both a copy.

How about an "exact copy" of a report dated May 16, 1811 that "describes in detail the expeditions ofKuskov to the coast of California," (hopefully based on the Kuskov journal(s)). This report, I presume, covers Kuskov's first and second trips to Bodega Harbor in 1809 and 1810 when "armed Indians attacked Kuskov's trading party." I found a reference to the report in the translation of a letter ofthe same date from Mikhailo Buldakov to Mikolai Ruminatsev. The letter transmits and discusses the contents of the report and mentions that during a secret exploration ofthe north shores of San Francisco Bay in 1809, the Russian met up with "natives of that place" and "two Spaniard and a monk". From what I can tell, the report has never been translated to English and is to be found in the following Russian archive: A VPR, Spb. Glavnyi arkhiv, II-3, op. 34, 1805-1824 gg., d. 7, 1. 6-9ob. I am sending you both a copy of the Buldakov letter and some related material.

Potentially, this report is a real treasure. I wouldn't be surprised if it contains some charts and maps.

As part of your respective Russian-era projects, do you have the means to have this report copied and translated. If not, or if you do not have an immediate interest in ·pursuing it, I may give it a try myself via the Fort Ross Interpretive Association of which I am a member.

Regards

Brian

rrparks -- 2 -- Sun, 17 May 1998 07:23 :29

Date sent: From: Subject:

Sun, 10 May 1998 01:21:14-0400 "E. Breck Parkman" <75263.3037@compuserve.com> Research news

To: Copies to:

"INTERNET: bkeUehr@ix.netcom.com" <bkeUehr@ix.netcom.com> Lyn Kalani <fria@mcn.org>

Hi Brian:

No, I haven't seen the 1809 Kuskov letter, but I would like to see it. I don't know if Glenn Farris has seen it or not. He probably has, but if not, he'll be interested, too.

Unfortunately, I lack a reliable translator for Russian. FRIA may be able to help, though. You might want to check with Lyn Kalani, FRIA's Bookstore Manager and Administrator. It might be nice to publish the letter or portions of it in FRIA's newsletter.

Thanks for sending me a copy of the letter. I'll look forward to seeing it.

Best Wishes, Breck

rrparks -- 1 -- Sun, 17 May 1998 07:22 :47

John Foster Senior State Archaeologist CA Department of Parks and Recreation Cultural Heritage Section P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001

Glenn Farris Assoc. Archaeologist CA Department of Parks and Recreation 2505 Port Street West Sacramento, CA 95691

Breck Parkman Assoc. Archaeologist CA Department of Parks and Recreation Silverado District 20 East Spain Street Sonoma, CA 95476-5778

May 11 , 1998

Re: Campbell Cove Archaeological Study

By US mail

Dear John, Glenn and Breck:

I am thrilled to hear of your decision to go fmward with remote-sensing archaeological work at Campbell Cove this summer, along with reviewing the finds of previous archaeological investigations in the Bodega Head environs.

I understand your study will search for artifacts of the known Russian occupation of Campbell Cove in the early 1800s including structures the Russians constructed in 1809 and port facilities they built circa 1812. As you know, it is my contention that in the summer of 1579, Sir Francis Drake and his company of Elizabethans also made port in Campbell Cove. I have offered some compelling arguments in support of this theory in my recently released book and news releases, and am hoping your upcoming studies will also shed some light in this direction.

The principal account of the voyage, The World Encompassed, describes the English encampment as a stone-walled fort lying at the foot of a hill. The account mentions an Indian village that lay :X-mile upwind from the fort, and describes a scene in which the natives are lighting fires in the hills at Drake's departure. The account further indicates that the English erected a large post upon which Drake mounted a brass plate claiming "Nova Albion" for England. There is a contemporary world map, drawn circa 1589 by the famed 16th-century cartographer Jodocus Hondius, that has an inset showing Drake's "Port of Nova Albion" (Portus plan) at the time of the Golden Hind's departure (attachment A). The inset shows the fort, a train

John Foster, Glenn Farris and Breck Parkman, California Department of Parks and Recreation May 11 , 1998

of Indians ostensible arriving en route from the village, and other Indians lighting fires in the hills.

If my theory about Drake's landfall is correct, and the Portus plan indeed represents Campbell Cove in accordance with the correlation shown in attachment A, there are at least three areas of interest at Bodega Head from the standpoint of remote-sensing archaeological work. The first of course, is the fort site. As you know from our previous site visits, it is my belief that the ruins and remains of Drake's stone fort are lying half-buried on the shores of Campbell Cove in precise correlation with the location of the fort in the Portus plan (attachments A, B, C). I recognize that the stone features I have pointed out may also represent the remains of Russian structures/port facilities .

The second area of interest is a conspicuous shelf area on the hilly point of land near the tip of Point Bodega. This shelf area correlates precisely with the locus on the Portus plan where an Indian is tending a fire lit atop some sort of object or small structure (attachment A). Of potential interest at this site are campfire debris potentially containing Elizabethan artifacts and any remains of the small structure/object depicted on the Portus plan. Because this location provides such a good vantage point overlooking the bay and harbor, it is also a candidate site for the plate of brass.

A third area of interest is a small shelf area on the low hill lying immediately north of the alleged Drake fort site (attachments B and D). This shelf area, located midway between the sea and the lagoon, like the shelf area near Point Bodega, is a candidate location for the brass plate in that it offers such a good vantage point overlooking the bay and harbor. I will also point out there is a document of questionable authenticity, ostensibly passed down through the Drake family, that indicates that Drake, to avoid overloading his ship, buried a cache of silver bars in Nova Albion, "on a low but sparsely wooded hill, midway between the sea and a large inland body of water." Though I personally do not give this evidence much credence, I am afraid that others will, particularly if your investigations eventually prove me correct in my theory about the location of Drake's landfall.

Good luck in your upcoming investigations and please keep me informed.

Sincerely,

#' bt 7 /u---Brian Kelleher P.O. Box 850 Cupertino, CA 95014 phone: (408) 253-8365; fax: (408) 253-3613; email: bkellehr@ix.netcom.com

cc with enclosures:

• Kent Lightfoot, UC Berkeley

2

Magnetic Nollh

Ruins of stone-walled structure uneallhed by PG&E in 1963 at foot of bluff correlate

exactly with Portus foil , ..... v'" '.v"

Former Indian trail from village to nollh stalled descending to beach here and ran

down the as depicted on the Poilus

BODEGA HEAD

(topographic)

POINT BODEGA

The base of the tapered hill running east-west on the south side of Point Bodega (dotted line) correlates exactly with the outer shoreline of the so-called Poilus peninsula

Vantage point for the Poilus

drawing

CAMPBELL COVE 10

shelf areas correlate exactly the locations on the Poilus

much you can SL-c of the channel entering irmcr Bodega Harbor from a

Fig. 13 The true Portus correlation. The correlation is based upon the premise that the so-called Portus island actually represents the tapered hill running east-west along the south side of Point Bodega, and that the Portus, standing on end, is oriented to magnetic north . Note the precise point-to-point correlation running in parallel lines for all seven of the Portus plan's outer shorelines (lines 1- 5, 12, 13)- the entire perimeter- and five of the six inner shorelines (lines 6-11 ). Note how well the extra shoreline on the Portus plan (line 10) correlates in position and orientation with a straight line that delineates the extent of your view from a vantage point (anchorage) located just outside the mouth of the harbor. Note also the correlation of the anchorage site, the fort site, the Indian trail , and the fact that the Portus now correctly correlates with its caption that talks of Indians lighting sacrificial fires "in the hill s" to mourn Drake 's departure.

Drakes Estero

PACIFIC OCEAN

0 500

Feet (approximate)

N

t I

1,000

Former Indian village area located three-quarters of a mile

from the fort site

Shoreline was

originally impassah\c

on foot in this area

Indian trail that wound down the face of the hlu ff

started here

BODEGA HARBOR

Fig. 1 The site of Drake's fort at Campbell Cove, before PG&E construction. Campbell Cove is located at the mouth of Bodega Harbor in the town of Bodega Bay. Adapted from a drawing prepared by Dames & Moore, San Francisco, for Pacific Gas & Electric Company, circa /962, contained in the Public Utility Commission files for Application Number 43808.

Start of Indian trail going down the face of the bluff

This erosion pattern may have resulted in part from

the English having burrowed their

encampment deep into the base of the bluff

Foot of the bluffin 1579 (approximate)

-- Mean low-water mark

. SECTION .5UGGE!!oTit-IG Tl+!: PO,S,$1&..£ APP£ARANCE. Of OflMt~ FORT

COM&ININC. AN E.NTit!NCHMENT WITH WA.U.S OF DQCX STONE.

Campbell Cove ( 1579/1962)

0 100 200 300

Feet (approximate)

/

BTK 2/98

Fig. 2 The fort site as of 1579 and 1962. The inset showing the fort section is a Drake Navigators Guild drawing. The dimensions are consistent with the size of the intact walls depicted in figure 3.

Foot of the bluff in 1962

(approximate)

. . . . . .

0 100 200 300

Feet (approximate)

Campbell Cove (1998)

Bodega Head

BTK 2/98

Fig. 3 The fort site as of 1998. Produced from aerial photography and field measurements.

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